Meet Our Trainees
Postdoctoral Fellows
Dilaram Acharya
Dilaram Acharya holds a position of Post-doctoral Associate under the supervision of Professor Mathew Thomas James in the Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, at the Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary. His post-doctoral research centers on Kidney Health Sciences and Data Sciences, encompassing pragmatic clinical trials, Randomized Clinical Trials, Systematic Reviews, and Meta-analysis, and Health services research with a significant focus on Kidney health outcomes and prevention. Apart from his academic pursuits, he enjoys reading novels, travelling, and spending time with his family.
Contact: dilaram.acharya@ucalgary.ca
Somkanya Tungsanga
Somkanya Tungsanga is a postdoctoral fellow of Prof. Aminu Bello in the Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta. She is interested in chronic kidney disease, focusing on early detection and slow progression. She also has a passion for cooking, arts, and drawing.
Contact: s.tungsanga@gmail.com, tungsang@ualberta.ca
PhD Candidates
Afreefa Alladin
Areefa is a PhD student in the Epidemiology program, she is supervised by Dr. Susan Samuel and Dr. Rob Quinn. Her research interest in glomerular kidney diseases in children, she is studying IgA nephropathy treatment and outcomes in the pediatric population. She enjoys cooking, gardening and nature.
Contact: bibi.karan@ucalgary.ca
Jane Fletcher
Jane Fletcher is a PhD student of Dr. David Campbell and Dr. Braden Manns since January 2022. Her focus is around health services research with an emphasis on the social determinants of health. When Jane isn't in the office, she enjoys escaping to the mountains, experimenting in the kitchen, and hanging out with friends and family.
Contact: fletchej@ucalgary.ca
Danielle Fox
Danielle is a registered nurse and a PhD candidate in the Department of Community Health Sciences (Health Services Research) at the University of Calgary, supervised by Dr. Rob Quinn and Dr. Dave Campbell. Her research focuses on improving transitions to home dialysis for people with kidney failure. In her spare time you’ll most likely find her out in the garden.
Contact: danielle.fox@ucalgary.ca
Nabilah Gulamhusein
Nabilah Gulamhusein is a PhD Candidate under the supervision of Dr. Sofia Ahmed, at the University of Calgary. Her research focuses on the relationship between female specific events across the lifespan (e.g., pregnancy, menopause, hysterectomy) and cardiovascular health. In her spare time, she enjoys watching Netflix, reading, and spending time with her family.
Contact: nabilah.gulamhuse1@ucalgary.ca
Himasara Pathiraja
Himasara is a PhD student specializing in Epidemiology supervised by Dr. Paul Ronksley and Dr. Aminu Bello. She is interested in the management of chronic conditions and will look at polypharmacy and deprescribing in chronic kidney disease for her thesis. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family and yoga.
Contact: dhmarasi@ucalgary.ca
Megan Patton
Megan Patton is a PhD student in Health Services Research under the supervision of Dr. Paul Ronksley and Dr. Gina Dimitropoulos. Megan’s research focuses on evaluating the transition from pediatric to adult health care for youth with chronic conditions. In her free time, Megan likes to go on hikes with her dog, Riley.
Contact: megan.patton@ucalgary.ca
Victoria Riehl-Tonn
Victoria Riehl-Tonn is a PhD student under the supervision of Dr. Sofia Ahmed. Her research focuses on sex and gender differences in patient outcomes in individuals with kidney failure undergoing hemodialysis. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and baking.
Contact: victoria.riehltonn@ucalgary.ca
Chantal Rytz
Chantal Rytz is a CIHR-funded PhD Candidate under the supervision of Dr. Sofia Ahmed. Her research focuses on the cardiovascular health of transgender individuals using gender-affirming hormone therapy. When Chantal isn’t doing research, she enjoys downhill skiing, mountain biking and testing out every ice cream flavour at Made by Marcus.
Contact: chantal.rytz@ucalgary.ca
Master's Students
Sarina Ayral
Sarina Aryal is MSc student in Health Services Research under the supervision of Dr. Karen Tang and Dr. David Campbell. Sarina pursued my undergraduate education in Health and Society through the Bachelor of Health Sciences program at the University of Calgary. Her graduate work will be exploring perspectives of people with lived experience of homelessness utilizing a medical monitoring program for substance use.
Nabilah Gulamhusein
Nabilah Gulamhusein is a MSc student under the supervision of Dr. Sofia Ahmed, at the University of Calgary. Her research focuses on the route of postmenopausal estrogen administration and cardiovascular risk. In her spare time, she enjoys watching Netflix, reading, and spending time with her family.
Contact: nabilah.gulamhuse1@ucalgary.ca
Meghan Harris
Meghan Harris is a registered nurse and MSc student under the supervision of Dr. Meghan Elliott. Her research focuses on providing further validation of a recently developed self-management tool on chronic kidney disease. Outside of research, she enjoys road cycling, cross country skiing and finding the best pastries in Calgary.
Contact: Meghan.harris@ucalgary.ca
Brandon Patter
Brandon Pattar is a MSc student under the supervision of Dr. Sofia Ahmed. His research focuses on understanding the relationship between gender-affirming testosterone therapy use and cardiovascular health among transmasculine individuals. Brandon enjoys anything and everything involving sports, and when he is not playing himself, you can often find him managing his roster for one of his numerous fantasy leagues.
Contact: badal.pattar@ucalgary.ca
Alvin Pharm
Alvin Pham is a MSc student under Dr. Kerry McBrien. His research explores the impact of a specific patient navigator role on the mental health outcomes of chronic disease patients. In his spare time, Alvin enjoys doing photography and kickboxing.
Contact: apha@ucalgary.ca
Daniel Sadler
Daniel Sadler is a MSc student of Dr. Paul Ronksley and Dr. Deirdre McCaughey since August 2021. His research interests are mental health, program evaluation, and collaboration with an strong background in child and adolescent supports and services. In his sparse spare time Daniel enjoys tabletop and board games, archery, and reading.
Contact: dvsadler@ucalgary.ca
Kokab Younis
Kokab Younis is a master’s student of Dr. Graham McCaffrey and Dr. Rob Quinn. Her focus is around quality improvement and patient-oriented research with an emphasis on diabetes risk factors and management. When Kokab isn't in the office, she enjoys escaping to the mountains with her daughter and husband.
Contact: Kokab.younis@ucalgary.ca